This blog is meant to display my coins/currency notes/stamps, in an informative manner, which would be useful to users in knowing about the history of the period when these coins/banknotes/stamps were minted/printed and events/persons they honour/depict, both on Indian and foreign coins/banknotes/stamps. The content would be more in the nature of a walk down memory lane through my collection/articles.

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Monday, 14 March 2016

284) National Science Centre, Delhi: UTSAV 2016: A Special Cover issued by the Delhi Postal Circle, New Delhi, Department of Posts, India, on 16.02.2016:

284)
National Science Centre, Delhi: UTSAV 2016: A Special Cover issued by the Delhi Postal
Circle, New Delhi, Department of Posts, India, on 16.02.2016:

This Special Cover was
released on 16.02.2016 by the Chief Postmaster General, Delhi Postal Circle,
during UTSAV-2016, the 8th Delhi Philatelic Exhibition held from
15-17 February 2016.

The Front of the Special
Cover is inscribed on the top left hand corner “Parmanu Vidyut Deergha, Rashtra
Ki Seva Mein Parmanu” (in Hindi) and “Hall of Nuclear Power, atoms serving the
nation” (in English”). There is a picture of one of the Galleries on the theme
of Nuclear Power in the “Rashtriya Vigyan Kendra” (in Hindi) and “NATIONAL
SCIENCE CENTRE” (in English). There is
the logo of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM). Below
the picture of the Hall of Nuclear Power, is mentioned “Parmanu Oorja Swachh,
Surakshit Evam Sasti Oorja Hai” (in Hindi) and “Nuclear energy is clean, safe
and cheap” (in English).

The Rs.5/- stamp is aptly
on Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam issued in 2015, showing an ISRO Rocket launched on its mission to engage into
Earth's orbit along with a picture of Dr.Kalam. The Cancellation Stamp is of New Delhi
and is inscribed “8th New Delhi Philatelic Exhibition 2016 – National
Science Centre”. The Cancellation date is 16.02.2016.

“Nuclear technology is
many things. It is electricity. It is medicine. It is a research tool. It is a
friend of the farmer. It is a detective and much more. One can see its many
faces in the Hall of Nuclear Power at the National Science Centre, Delhi.” (in
English).

The Cover has been issued
by the Chief Postmaster General, Delhi Postal Circle, New Delhi & bears the
logo of India Post and the Serial number DEL/04/2016.

National
Science Centre, Delhi:

Inaugurated on 09.01.1992,
the National Science Centre Delhi (NSCD) is a unit of the National Council of
Science Museums (NCSM), which is an autonomous body functioning under the
Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The National Science Centre, Delhi is
the Northern Zone headquarters of the National Council of Science Museums.

It is a Science Museum, as well as, It is a
pioneering institute engaged in the popularisation of science among the people
of Northern India in general and among the students in particular.

The
Objectives:

The Objectives of the
NSCD are:

-Popularisation of Science
among the general public at large and students in particular

-Efforts to achieve scientific
literacy in the country.

-To inculcate Scientific
Awareness & Scientific Temper.

-To organise various
educational programmes for the benefit of students, teachers & society.

-Supporting curriculum
based education at school & college levels by imparting teachers training.

-Encouraging inquisitive
minds to inculcate innovative ideas.

-Display &
demonstration of progress & achievements in various fields in science and
technology.

-“Learning To Do”, “Learn
Through Fun” have been chosen as the mode of learning.

-Preserving the Science
& Technology Heritage of the country.

The
National Science Centre Exhibits:

The National Science
Centre houses six galleries on its four floors including six permanent halls
full of interesting and hands – on participatory exhibits – Our Science
& Technology Heritage, Human Biology, Fun Science, March of Information
Revolution from cave paintings to the Internet, a Digital information Gallery including
the Cyberskool, Emerging Technologies: A look into the Future, Water: The Elixir
of Life etc.

Of particular interest is one
of the largest exhibits in the World spanning four floors – “the Energy
Balls” in which nylon balls, six inches in diameter are lifted to a height
of 50 Feet, letting them gain potential energy and then dropped, letting them
travel all kinds of paths, performing work to expend their potential energy
into other forms of energy.

There are also small
attention grabbing exhibits, like the magic tap which apparently gushes
forth water suspended in space without any inlet, a harp, where merely
moving one’s hands creates music and a suitcase which curiously resists
being twisted about its handle – all items of student’s interest who account
for almost 65% of the total number of visitors to the Centre.

The Centre also houses a
reception Amphitheatre.

National
Science Centre activities:

There are several
commemorative events every year like World Telecommunication Day, World Health
Day, World Environment Day, World Ozone Day, World Population Day, National
Science Day, National Technology Day, Engineer’s Day, etc. which are celebrated
by organising popular science lectures, exhibitions and several competitive
programmes for school and college students.

Several Community Programmes are
conducted, where the benefits of science is demonstrated by means of lectures,
lectures for housing societies, colleges, slums, underprivileged sections etc.
In addition, the NSC also conducts science dramas ad plays regularly.

Creative
ability Camps: Children have a natural tendency to explore.
Through this activity the NSC aims to augment this tendency. Simple exploratory
experiments to illustrate and study scientific concepts, using low cost and
waste materials are taught to children and to learn concepts using scientific
methodology.

Programmes
for Specially Abled/underprivileged children:
The NSC organises regular visits for Specially Abled children. Sensorimotor
development skill workshops for autistic children and those with cerebral palsy
are arranged. Life skill development for underprivileged children and Science
awareness for minority groups like Madrassa students are conducted. Sign
language science demonstration lectures for hearing impaired, highly subsidised
entry for children from Municipal Schools are arranged for.

Programmes
for Adults: Stress management programmes for adults
and adolescents, Breast Cancer awareness and early detection programmes for
destitute women/underprivileged women and providing vocational training to
them, Basic First Aid training for housewives, special programmes for war
widows in collaboration with the Indian Armed Forces are also conducted.

Nature
Study Camps: Groups of students are taken to places
with a distinct eco-system accompanied by a team of experts. The teams
undertake detailed study of the eco-systems and understands the bonding of
mankind with Nature.

Sky
Observation Camps: The Centre has a very sophisticated
refracting telescope through which experts conduct sky watching sessions for
students and general public at night. Identification of Constellations &
Celestial bodies, observation of special events like meteor showers and
eclipses are part of this programme.

“Taramandal”
is a portable mini-planetarium with an inflatable dome and simple projection
equipment which provides an inter-active learning of elementary astronomy and
conducting dark room scientific experiments.

Science
Quiz: This is an annual event involving hundreds of
students from New Delhi Schools.

Science
Seminar: This is an All-India event starting from
block level of all the 28 States and 8 Union Territories, some 15000 students
are shortlisted of which one is short-listed from each State & UT. The
topic is of current scientific relevance & the winners take away attractive
prizes in cash and scholarships.

Film
shows: The NSC has a large library of Video Cassettes and
CDs on different scientific topics which are available for viewing by visiting
student groups.

Popular
Science Lectures, Science
Camps/Fairs, Science
Demonstration lectures, Teacher’s
Training Programmes etc are some of the other activities of the NSC.

Satellite
Units of the NSCD:

There are two Satellite
Units of the NSCD –

-Regional Science City, in
Lucknow, which has six exhibition halls on the
themes of Fun Science, Fluidics, Popular Science, Ganga: The Story of Water,
Birth of Life and “Meri Anokhi Duniya”.
The Centre is spread over 4.00 acres of land. The Centre has a large format
film theatre, 3D Science Film show and several other attractions.

I have visited this Unit a couple of
years ago and was quite impressed with the efforts and planning gone into
setting it up, as well as, the enthusiasm shown by several groups of school
children on learning about the exhibits and the Film shows, some of whom also
took notes.

-Kurukshetra Panorama &
Science –

This
Centre houses a 400’ x 40’ ft large panorama mounted o a cylindrical structure.
It houses the largest digital painting in India. The painting depicts ten major
events of the epic Mahabharat, supported with scientific information of
contemporary nature. In addition, the Centre has an exhibition on Indian
Scientific Heritage and another exhibition on Fun Science. There are several
outdoor exhibits spread in the park all around the Centre.

About Me

I am Rajeev Prasad, a retired State Bank of India officer who had been collecting coins in a shoe box without having a serious interest. Only after quitting my job I got the time to take serious interest in developing my coin collection into a hobby. A pity, because I would have had more opportunity to lay my hands on more 'exclusive coins' while in the Bank. Anyway, as they say,better late than never. If you have any views to share with me regarding this blog , please contact me on my email rajeevprasad1208@gmail.com. I also have a twitter account @prasad_rajeev.
I had an opportunity to participate in a Documentary on the life and times of the 25 paise coin titled “Chal Basi Chavanni” (The four anna/twenty five paise coin passes away), aired by STAR NEWS on 29th and 30th June 2011. The programme helped in making many persons hold back onto their “chavannis”, the little round beauties, instead of returning them to Banks .